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Software · head to head

Apollo.io vs lemlist

Apollo.io logo

Apollo.io

Software

Revenue intelligence platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
lemlist logo

lemlist

Software

Multichannel cold outreach platform for email, LinkedIn, SMS and calling

From
$55/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Apollo.io has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apollo.io everything is metered in credits, and the free Starter plan runs on them too, so prospecting volume is capped rather than the feature set; lemlist no standalone free plan, only a 14-day trial after which new campaigns cannot be launched without upgrading.
  • They diverge on capability: Apollo.io covers Contact database, lemlist covers Multichannel sequences.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apollo.io and lemlist actually diverge.

Attributes where Apollo.io and lemlist differ
AttributeApollo.iolemlist
Starting priceFree$55/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebweb, api
Founded20202018

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apollo.io

  • Contact database
  • Email finder
  • Lead search
  • Automation
  • Engagement tracking
  • Reporting
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot

Only in lemlist

  • Multichannel sequences
  • Lead database
  • Deliverability hub
  • AI agents
  • CRM integrations
  • API, CLI and MCP access

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apollo.io

  • Lead generationnot lemlist
  • Prospect researchnot lemlist
  • Sales automationnot lemlist

lemlist

  • Running multichannel outbound campaigns across email and LinkedInnot Apollo.io
  • Finding verified emails and phone numbers for prospectsnot Apollo.io
  • Protecting sender reputation with automated inbox warm-upnot Apollo.io
  • Combining calling and messaging into a single outreach sequencenot Apollo.io

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apollo.io

  • Everything is metered in credits, and the free Starter plan runs on them too, so prospecting volume is capped rather than the feature set
  • Plans described as unlimited are capped in the fair use policy at 10,000 credits a month for non-paying accounts
  • Connecting a mailbox that is not Gmail or Microsoft requires a paid plan
  • How many records can be selected at once varies by tier
  • Running out of credits means buying more rather than waiting for a reset

lemlist

  • No standalone free plan, only a 14-day trial after which new campaigns cannot be launched without upgrading.
  • Multichannel plan pricing scales per sender/user, which can get costly for larger teams.
  • Enterprise features like SSO/SAML require a custom-priced plan and a 5-user minimum.
  • Advanced AI agent capabilities are newer and less proven than long-established outreach features.

Pricing, plan by plan

Apollo.io

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic contact search
    • Limited searches
  • Starter$49/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Advanced search
    • Email finder
  • Professional$149/month
    • Everything in Starter
    • Automation
    • Advanced analytics

lemlist

$55/month
  • Email$55/month
    • 50,000 emails/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Email and phone finder
  • Multichannel$87/month
    • Unlimited emails and messages
    • 5 senders per user
    • LinkedIn, SMS and WhatsApp automation
  • Enterprise$undefined/mo
    • 5+ users minimum
    • Dedicated account manager
    • SSO/SAML security

Which should you pick?

Choose Apollo.io if

  • You need contact database.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want email finder.
Apollo.io review

Choose lemlist if

  • You need multichannel sequences.
  • You work on web, api.
  • You also want lead database.
lemlist review

Questions people ask

Is Apollo.io or lemlist better?
Neither clearly leads. Apollo.io starts at Free and lemlist at $55/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apollo.io or lemlist?
Apollo.io has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apollo.io and $55/month for lemlist.
Does Apollo.io or lemlist run on more platforms?
Apollo.io runs on Web. lemlist runs on web, api.
Can I use Apollo.io for free?
Yes. Apollo.io has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. lemlist starts at $55/month.
What is Apollo.io best used for?
Apollo.io is most often used for lead generation, prospect research, sales automation. Of those, lead generation and prospect research are not what lemlist is typically brought in for.
What can Apollo.io do that lemlist cannot?
Apollo.io covers Contact database, Email finder, Lead search, Automation. lemlist covers Multichannel sequences, Lead database, Deliverability hub, AI agents.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

lemlist: What does lemlist cost?

lemlist's Email plan starts at $55/month (billed annually) for 50,000 emails, the Multichannel plan starts at $87/month for unlimited emails and messages plus LinkedIn/SMS/WhatsApp, and Enterprise is custom-priced.

Source
lemlist: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?

lemlist offers a 14-day free trial with full Multichannel plan access and no credit card required; after the trial, the account remains accessible but new campaigns cannot be launched without a paid subscription.

Source
lemlist: What does lemlist integrate with?

lemlist integrates with CRMs like HubSpot, Salesforce and Pipedrive, automation tools like Zapier, Make and n8n, VoIP platforms such as Aircall and Ringover, and offers API, CLI and MCP access.

Source
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